Community Calendar

“Decomposers Glow,” an art installation with larger-than-life glowing snails and mushrooms, is the centerpiece for the museum’s summer programming and events

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Nature, art, and technology come together for “Decomposers Glow,” an awe-inspiring larger-than-life landscape of illuminated snails and mushrooms. Created by Meredith Connelly, a Charlotte, N.C. based and award-winning multidisciplinary artist, the site-specific installation portrays the agents of decomposition through an interplay of light and technology. A curving path leads visitors through a soft glowing, otherworldly environment to observe over one hundred hand-constructed and 3D printed sculptures. Decomposers Glow is open from May 10 – Nov. 10, 2024.
Leading viewers into Connelly’s “Decomposers Glow,” a concurrent exhibit highlights the variety and importance of nature’s agents of decomposition. “Return to Earth” features photographs of actual fungi by Mike Hammer, painted mushroom models, a Carolina Piedmont snail shell collection, and two-dimensional cut paper works by Meredith Connelly that reference nature’s microscopic structures. “Return to Earth” on exhibit at Museum of York County from May 4 – Dec. 15, 2024.
More of Mike Hammer’s photography is on exhibit in the museum’s Nature Nook Gallery. “Endless Trail” features the natural settings of the Carolina Piedmont and beyond, capturing the uniquely beautiful moments of each season. “Endless Trail” opens at Museum of York County on May 18, 2024.

Join us for our inaugural 5K Run/Walk & Fun Run! Participants of all ages are welcome! Register now at crosscountryforyouth.org.

Celebrate the season in the heart of Dilworth while supporting a Charlotte tradition! The Christmas Market Fundraiser at the 12th Step Services Club features local vendors, handcrafted gifts, ornament painting, photos with Santa, and a festive raffle.
Proceeds help keep the doors open at this 77 year-old nonprofit community hub — a place “where hope meets recovery” for countless individuals and families.

Shop local, give back, and share the holiday spirit!

Carrying forward the legacy of New Orleans’ most storied jazz institution, the Preservation Hall Legacy All-Stars bring the Crescent City’s holiday spirit to the Queen City. Expect soulful carols, joyful swing, and the timeless sound of New Orleans traditional jazz in this festive holiday celebration for the whole family. This special weekend benefits our JazzArts Academy programs.
The Preservation Hall All-Stars are the premiere ensemble of the most tenured artists from the greater Preservation Hall musical collective. Each performer bears a unique connection to the earliest practitioners of jazz itself, some by bloodline but all united by the sheer power of tradition. In addition to performing at the Hall weekly and internationally throughout the year, these culture bearers continue to pass the torch to the younger generation through education and music outreach.

The JAZZ ROOM provides a casual and intimate setting with tables and a full bar, reminiscent of the classic jazz rooms of yesteryear.

Thank you to our JAZZ ROOM contributors: Bank of America, South Arts, Knight Foundation, Arts & Science Council, North Carolina Arts Council, Alice L Walton Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the Infusion Fund.

The Lake Norman Orchestra is presenting a free-admission holiday-themed concert at Mt. Zion UMC on Saturday, December 6, 6 PM. The 60-member all-volunteer full orchestra will perform a wide variety of holiday favorites. Song titles include "Sleigh Ride," "There's Christmas in the Air," "Do You Hear What I Hear?," and many other holiday classics.

7th Street Concerts is a dynamic new classical music series located in the heart of uptown Charlotte. Their third season opens with a journey across oceans and centuries featuring the luminous sounds of music from Latin and South America and Spain spanning five centuries. Through soaring voices, period instruments, and evocative storytelling, this program reimagines Mary and Joseph’s search for refuge as a timeless reflection of today’s migrants traveling al norte led by hope. Festive, sacred, and secular works come to life in a performance that bridges cultures, centuries, and our shared human longing. Join singers Nick Garza and Andrea Walker, with an ensemble of early instruments, for a radiant holiday concert that celebrates both cultural roots and the universal search for home.

Festivities begin at 5:30 with a complimentary pre-concert Happy Hour followed by the concert. The music will last about 75min with no intermission, and will conclude with more drinks and snacks on us, plus a chance to meet and mingle with the artists. Free parking included.

Holiday magic is back in Charlotte Youth Ballet’s 46th annual production of The Nutcracker! This family-friendly event showcases the artistry of local student dancers and professionals from around the world. CYB is a nonprofit organization led by Charlotte legend, Gay Porter, and Artist Director, Bridget Porter Young.

General Admission shows:
Friday, December 5 at 7pm
Saturday, December 6 at 2pm and 7pm
Sunday, December 7 at 2:30pm

Special discounted performances are available for schools, preschools, homeschool students, Girl Scouts, and seniors. Visit https://charlotteyouthballet.org/nutcracker/ for info.

Ring in the season with JOY!, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte’s signature holiday celebration. Expect a sparkling mix of stunning singing and playful hijinks you won’t find anywhere else—from the serenity of Morten Lauridsen’s Magnum Mysterium to the feel-good lift of That Christmas Morning Feelin’ (Spirited), capped by the debut of Dan Forrest’s breathtaking arrangement for men’s voices of Angels We Have Heard on High.

Equal parts heart and camp, tradition and surprise, JOY! sweeps from classical to pop and everything in between—wrapped in GMCC’s trademark warmth, wit, and wall-of-sound harmonies. Come for the sparkle, leave humming… with JOY!

Get your seats now—holiday happiness starts here!

Performance Dates:
Thursday, December 4, 2025 - 7:30 PM

Friday, December 5, 2025 – 7:30 PM

Saturday, December 6, 2025 – 3:00 PM

📍 Location:
Galilee Center
3601 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205

Accessibility: The Thursday, December 4th performance at 7:30 PM will feature ASL interpretation for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons. We’re proud to make JOY! inclusive and welcoming to all.

Embark on a fascinating journey through the skies and cosmos in the interactive aerospace exhibition Above and Beyond!

Above and Beyond celebrates the incredible innovations that have shaped flight – from the earliest dreams of the Wright brothers to today’s space exploration and tomorrow’s cutting-edge aviation technologies.

Explore the frontiers of air and space travel through immersive simulations, hands-on design challenges and dynamic storytelling that brings the history and future of aerospace to life. The journey begins in a wraparound immersive theater, then expands into five themed galleries featuring dozens of interactive stations.

Step into a glowing, snow-dusted wonderland with the debut of Snow Days, a one-of-a-kind indoor winter experience in Charlotte, NC, opening Saturday, November 22 and running through the winter holidays.

Snow Days is a family-friendly winter experience designed to inspire awe, nostalgia and wonder—perfect for anyone looking for indoor winter activities in Charlotte or things to do in Charlotte when it’s cold.

Highlights of Snow Days
* Aurora Borealis Experience – Walk beneath the dazzling Northern Lights in a peaceful winter scene. It’s a moment of stillness and awe in the heart of Charlotte’s newest indoor winter wonderland.
* Sock Skating Rink – Enjoy a fun indoor skating activity for all ages—no ice required! Visitors slip off their shoes and glide across a frictionless rink, making this one of the most unique indoor winter attractions in Charlotte.
* Nature & Animals in Winter – Explore how animals adapt to the cold through migration, hibernation and other survival strategies. See fascinating museum specimens like the Arctic fox, Humboldt penguin and snowy owl, and experience a blend of science and winter discovery in Charlotte.
* The Inuit: Life, Culture and Survival – Build a traditional-style igloo and explore fascinating artifacts and stories of resilience from Inuit communities who have thrived in Arctic climates for generations.
* The Snowflake: Research, Art and Folklore – Marvel at intricate snowflake photography, design virtual snowflakes, and learn how snow has inspired both science and storytelling across time. It’s a beautiful mix of art, science and winter magic.
* Hygge: Human Comfort for Survival – Relax in a cozy nook styled after the Danish and Norwegian tradition of hygge, celebrating the warm, cozy side of winter with soft lighting, music, blankets and books—an ideal spot for a winter day indoors in Charlotte.